‘I be come to tell ’ee, Mrs. Fiander, as I wish to notice ye for Saturday week. These here changes bain’t to my likin’, and the mistress bain’t to my likin’; so ye’ll please to suit yourself by that time, mum.’
He spoke gruffly, and eyed her impertinently, but this time she did not flinch.
‘Very well, Job,’ she said; ‘I have no doubt I shall be able to do so without any difficulty.’
Abel was the next to advance, but Rosalie waved him aside.
‘As it has already been settled that you are to leave,’ she remarked, ‘you can have nothing to say to me. Step back. Now who comes next?’
James Bundy, it seemed, came next; he approached a little hesitatingly, looking hard at his mistress.
‘Please, mum, I wish to leave on Saturday week.’
‘Quite right,’ returned Rosalie with great unconcern. ‘Next!’
James Bundy stepped back and Robert Cross stepped forward, smiling obsequiously.
‘I’m sure, mum, it do go agen me terrible to make sich a break as this here, but still, d’ ye see, we can’t nohow put up with—’